What is the Constitutional origin of the right to vote in federal elections?

The correct answer points to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was a landmark piece of federal legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed under the 15th Amendment. While the Constitution provides the framework for voting rights and the amendment process allows for changes to that framework, the direct impact of the Voting Rights Act was transformative in ensuring access to the polls, particularly for disenfranchised populations.

The Constitution of 1787 established the foundational governance structure and rights, but it did not explicitly guarantee the right to vote for all citizens, as voting qualifications were left largely to individual states. The Bill of Rights primarily addresses individual freedoms and rights but does not specifically address voting rights. The Amendment Process allows for the potential creation or alteration of laws related to voting rights over time but does not itself establish a right to vote. Thus, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 stands out as the crucial legislation that explicitly aimed to protect and enforce the right to vote for all citizens in federal elections.